Democracy
/dɪˈmɒkrəsi/noun
A system of government in which the people elect representatives or vote on legislation directly.
Did you know?The concept of democracy originated in Ancient Greece, where it was often associated with a limited form of citizen participation, excluding women and slaves.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
δημοκρατία (demokratía)
“Rule by the people, derived from 'demos' (people) and 'kratos' (power).”
14th Century
Old French
democracie
“Adoption of the Greek term into political discourse, emphasizing governance by the populace.”
16th Century
Latin
democratia
“Latinization of the Greek term, used in political contexts regarding civic governance.”
Modern English
English
democracy
“Emergence of the term in English to describe various forms of political systems involving popular sovereignty.”
Explore more surprising origins